Signal flasher



Feb. 27, 1923.

. s. v. KARLSON SIGNAL FLASHER Filed Jan. 6, 1922 2 sheets-sheet l IIVVENTOR Feb. 27, 1923.

G. V. KARI-SON SIGNAL FLASHER Filed Jan. 6, 1922 2 sheets-sheet 2 .Ipl

I W 1 1 2 QM MWIIP a WWI M 2 H P w #W W WW FHQVIHWM: in 1 A TTORNEYS Patented Feb. 27, 1923.

A UNITED sr'rz- GUSTAV V.

sIeNaL ILAsHnn, 1 ,4,

. Application filed January 6,1922. Serial N 527,398] f T 0 all 107mm itmzu concern:

Be it known that I, Gnsrav V. lxARLsoN, a citizen of therUnited States, residing in .thevcity of Elizabeth, in the State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal "Flashers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a. part hereof.

Signahflashers have beenextended from their use in marine fields to traflic workon land. For economy in initial cost, installation and upkeep it is generally recognized that gas is the most desirable lighting medium. However, no commercially practicable or satisfactory mechanical control for the flame characteristic has been proposed,

most of the efforts being confined to some other object is to provide in associationwith simple mechanical control devices for the valves of such channels, a positive hand operated adjustment ofs'imple form for changing at will the characteristics-of the flame through increasing ordecreasing either the period-of darkness or the period of light.

All of the control elements and adjustments are qulck and sensitlve in actlon and give the desired results with a minimum of wear;

Still another object of the invention is to providein a pressure control for a signal flasher operating mechanlsm for the valves 45 proved'flasher is made particularly adaptable for general uses will appear hereinafter in connection with. the description of the ac- .c'om 'antin drawin s wherein Figure 1 isa view partly in section and elevation of theburner partly in elevation of the improvednasher, the"interior of the gas chamber with the valve controllingparts being shown.

KARLSON, on ELIZABETH, NEW messy; ASSIGNORTO cHILLINewoRTH ENGINEERING CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NnurYoRKs Figure 2 is'a fragmentary view in side showing its support andthe gas connections. p p Figure 3 is a detail view in vertical section through the gas chamberiand showing the gas valves and the control mechanism therefor and .the' pressure diaphragm, the view beingtaken along the plane ndicated by'the line 3-'-3 of Figures and looking in the'direction of the arrows.

Figurel is a viewin plan. of some of the parts shown in Figure 3, otherparts, including the diaphragm, being removed in the interest of clearness. j

Figures 5' and 6 are detail views showing in sectionthe mechanical operating devices for the gas valves in two extreme positions. The base a of the flasher is of suitable "form and dimensions depending upon the situation in which it is to be placed and supports the gas" chamber 6 which is closed by meansof a flexible diaphragm c whichmay be clamped in placeconveniently by means oil removable jringd secured {to the; upper edge of the chamber byfmeans of bolts c.

Thegas which,, io'r instance,".may be acetyleneis led into the gas chamber through any convenient pipingfa supply line f being; in-

dicated. conventionally. in the v base at. From this supply line the gas' mavflovrthrough a pipe f past the needle valve 5 through-a channel 7) in the wall of the gas chamber 6 and past an inlet valve 71; whichcontrols its flow intofthe gas" chamber] From the chamber the-gaspmay escape past outlet valve 2', channel Z2 inlthe wall ofthe chamthe inner face 0t this cover plate is seated a suitable spring '0 which engagesgthe diaphragm c v ad acent 1,ts axis to oppose upward movement of the diaphragm under the pres'sure of the gas within the chamber b'. The cover a may carry therewith an upwarolly extending sleeve n in which isslidher 6 and pipe L" to the burner" Z where it may be ignited by a pilot flame maintained The diaphragm may be comably mounted a supporting stem Z for the burner Z. The elevation of the burner may be adjusted by means of a clamping screw a which is carried with the sleeve 91/ and cQ-OPerates with the stem Z to'lock it releasably in adjusted position.

The principal feature of the invention is concerned with the mechanical actuating devices which are associated with the inletand outlet gas valves h, 2' respectively and open and close them at predetermined times in accordance with. an adjusted flame characteristic. These mechanical actuating and adjusting devices are extremely simple in construction and setting, and positive and quick in action. The valves h, 2' aresWiveled to the underside of a bar 19 which is pivoted adjacent its mid-section on anti friction bearing points p disposed at opposite sides of its mid-section. The valve bar 7 may be pressed on its bearings yieldingly by means of spring-pressed plungers 29 seated on and guided by straps 29 under which lie the bearing points 79. The vaives h, i are of the self-seating lap type and form a tight gas connection. Only one ofthese valves is intended to be seated at a time since when the gas is flowing to the flame past the'outlet' valve 1' the inlet valve it must be held closed in order that the period of light may be of predetermined duration. Contrariwise, when gas is flowing from the supply line 7' into the chamber 5 past the inlet valve it the outlet valve 2' will be seated so that during the predetermined period of darkness the gas supply may be replenished. To secure a quick and positive seating and open- .ing of the inlet and outlet valves h, 2 respectively by simple mechanical devices is a problem which has not heretofore been satis factorily solved. In the present invention these devices are extremely sensitive, positive, simple and quick acting so that the characteristics of the flame may be adjusted with the greatest nicety.

The diaphragm 0 is the actuating element for the valves. its movement in one direction being caused by the spring 0 and its movement in the other direction being caused by the pressure of the gas confined in the chamber 7) after its passage past the inlet valve it. Movements of the diaphragm 0 must be communicated to and impressed upon the controlling valves 72,, 1'. The elements for transmitting these movements are of in proved construction. They include ordinary arms 1' pivoted respectively on uprights q fastened to the base of the gas chamber 7). These arms overlie the valve bar p and extend in substantial parallelism from one side of the pivot point p therefor to the other. The free ends of the spring arms 51 are connected operatively to the valve bar 7) adjacent one end thereof through the devices illustrated most/clearly in Figures and 6. The bar ]7 has mounted loosely therein but transverselythereof a bearing block 77*,

the opposite ends of which are recessed to afford bearing seats for short push rods 1", the opposite ends of which may be tapered to afford anti-friction engagement at their inner ends with the bearing block 39 and, at their outer ends, with the bearing pieces 8 carried on the inner faces of the spring arms Q opposite'the bearing block 79. The bearing pieces 5 on the arms 9 may constitute the heads of the studs 3 which may be threaded through the arms and extend outwardly therefrom to act as stopsv which co-operate with the heads of studs 23 threadedinto posts 1; to limit the travel of the arms 9 up and down. The push rods 1" are of such length with respect to the floating bearing block 79* and the distance between the spring arms q that they may pass through their dead centers without imposing undue stresses on any of the associated parts and yet e'ltect a quick and positive change in position of the piv otal valve bar 7). The spring arms 9 are yieldable laterally and it is their tension which snaps the valve bar p upwards or downwards as the push rods 1" pass through their dead center. The floating block p accommodates itself laterally to unbalanced stresses thereon from one side or the other and insures a floating connection between the spring arms at all times. Movement of the valve bar 10 about its pivotpoint p is in a direction opposite from the direction of movement of the spring arms g which is to say that when the ends of the arms q are raised, as shown in Figure 5, the proximate end of the valve bar 1) is forced downwardly to seat the inlet valve it. On the other hand, when the free ends of the spring. arms (I are lowered, as shown in Figure 6, the action of the push rods 7' is to force the proximate end of the valve bar 79 upwardly, thus unseating the valve h and forcing the outlet valve i at the opposite end to its seat. In their movements the arms 9' carry the studss for cooperation with the limit stops t, t.

In a construction in which equal and opposite movements at all times of the diaphragm 0 would give the desired flame characteristic a direct connection between the diaphragm and the arms 9 might be effective to accomplish the intended purposes. However. in the illustrated embodiment it is proposed to connect the diaphragm operatively with the spring arms 51 through ad-' justable means whereby the flame characteristics as regards both periods of'light and periods of darkness may be delicately controlled. At the center of the diaphragm 0 are connected, in accordance with usual practise, metal: discs a united by a central stud a threaded therethrough. The stud c carries at its lower end a loose rocking trunnion block 0 through which passesthe end ofalever g carried by a transverse pivot ping journaledi in the spring'arinsy; The free end of the rod 9 extends into a bell shaped heads on adju table "stud a threaded; through theside."wall'- of the gas chamber 6 and lying in substantialprolongation'of the rod '9 in the median post tion of thelatter. 'Theend' of the :rod Q which co -operates the inner tapered 'walls of' the bell shaped head a may be formed withj an anti friction bearing ball Qt. The exposed end of the stud it maybe formed for engagement "by a suitable tool,

such asc, to facilitate rotation of the stud needle valve gt The gas flowing into the chamber past thevalve h will exert, a pressure' on the diaphragn c andforce itupwardly; The stud 0 will i carry the lever v up with'it until the ball g? "seats'against the taperedfaceof thebell'shaped head a and constitutes alfulcrum about-which the pressure ,inay be transmitted through the rod ftothe pin Q and the spring arms -gin which it is journaledl Upward movement of the arms 9 about theirpivotal supports will 'continue'until the push rods r" against the lateral tension of the arms 9 snap through their dead centers and, under the 'te'ns ion of the arms jg, force the proximate end of the valve bar 79 downwardly 'to' seat the inlet Figure 3, the 'head u is backed, away. from the and g a longer time will elapse'before v the dia hragm chas rn vedasuflicientdis tance to engage theend-git with its- 'seat. The time elapsing before "the --outlet valve is j forced to; its seat wi1l-'contrariwisedepend lontheirelationofthe' bell headfu and I l i the end g o'f-therod g any, event', it:

y will be fou'nd that" the" movements vof* the diaphragm c from its med-iani position up wards and downwards fare -always j equal thereby lnsurlngit a wide efl'ectlve rangetof movement and'relieving ltbf undue stresses such as are imposed when undue movement in one. direction or the other Fisfrequired.

the period of light' and the 'periodof'fdarknessmay be brought aboutbyregulating the needle valve fg to give 'a fasterf'or' slower rate 'All' of'pt-h'e I v at once very simple and accessible, positive and quick in action and readily adjustable. It is wholly of a mechanical character and the mechanical' devices are extremely simple and not "sub-j ect to excessive '-'wear in spiteQo f the delicate 'contr'ol a'fliorded" by them-1' jffChanges which have to do with -mere' matters: of ,form,-di-

*mension's and arrangement ma'y be made by {those skilled in the art without departing fronr the spirit of the --invention.

I-claim asmy inventionp. a -1. In'a gas signal flasher, a pressure chamber, {inlet and outlet valvestoi control the flow of gas to and from said'pressure chan1'- valvejh. Simultaneously and with the same her, a rocking bar on whichsaid valves'are snap the outlet valve 2' will be plucked from its seat and the gas within thechamber will flow through. the feed pipe, n to the burner "Z where'it will be ignited bythepilot flame from the other line.,m,"m"ij Asthe gas flows out of the chamber, 7) the diaphragm 0 will he forced downwardly under the influence of the spring 0, the aims r swinging downwardly therewith by reason of their pivotal connection thereto through the ping and The period of darkness may be adjusted to a fraction of a second by moving the bell shapedhead it towards or away from the end (1 of the rod 9 it being understood that the instant whenthe inlet'valve h is moved to its seat and the outlet valve 1: opened depends, in the lastfanalysis, upon the rela-' of its seat within the head u. As'viewed in c'arried, adiaphr'agin movable by the? gas,

yielding lever arms 'connectedfoperatively 'with the diaphragm and movable therewith,

l/Vithinlimits, any desired "relation between 1 mechanism described is and push rods interposed'operatively and 1 pivotallyc'onnected to said arms ens the bar to impress movements'ofthe arms' on -the:

bar. a I a v 2. In a gas signal flasher, a pressure chamber, inlet and outletvalves therefor to conj trol the flow of gas to and from saidcham her, a rocking bar on which said valves are carried, a diaphragm -movable' under the action of the gas, yielding arms mounted pivotally and connected operatively to the Jdiaphragin and a floating connection .-be-

,tween the arms and thebar including a] member carried looselywith the bar and push rods pivotally interposed between said member and said arms. 1 v

3. In a gas signal flasher,'a-pressure chamber, inlet and'outlet valves to control" the flow of gas to, and from said chamber, a

rocking'bar mounted on anti-friction bearlugs and carrylng' said valves, a swiveled connection between said valves and said bar, p a diaphragm movable under the action of tion between the end q and theremoteness the gas, spring arms "mounted pivotally within the chamber and connected operatively to the, diaphragm, a member mounted loosely iii-the bar at one side. of its pivot and push rods pivotally connected through antit'riction bearings to said member and said a a. Ina ga'sfgnal. flasher, in combination with a pressure chamber, self-aligninginlet and outletvalves to control they flow of gas into and out oi saidchamber, a diaphragm movable at equal distances towards and away from its median line under the gas pressure to initiate operation of said ;valves and an adjustable connection between saiddiaphragm and said valves including a lever having a spherical end and a conical. seat therefor movable towards and away from the lever 'to change its fulcrum with respect to said diaphragm. I I 5.-In a gas signal flasher, in combination with a gas chamber, inlet and outlet valves to Control the fiow of gas into and out of said chamber. a bar on which said valves are carried, a diaphragm movable under the action of the gas to initiate operation of said valves, and an adprstable connection between said bar and the diaphragm including pivoted yielding arms, push rods interposed operatively bet-ween said arms and said bar, a diaphragm movable equal distances towards and'away rrom the median line under the pressure of the gas, and

means operatively connecting said barv with said diaphragm to rock the bar upon equal movements of the diaphragm in opposite directions from its median position.

7. Ina gas signal flasher, a gas chamber, inlet and outlet valves to control the flow of gas into and out of the chamber, a rocking baron which the valves are carried, said bar being pivoted flliltS mid-section to move the valves equal distances from their seats upon rocking, a pivoted arm connected with the bar, pushrods included in said connection between the pivoted arm and the. bar, a rod pivoted'on said arm, a diaphragm connected with the rod and movable under the gas pressure and an ad ustable fulcrum for said rod and adapted to engage it in one position when the rod is horizontaland the diaphragm in the median position, the relation of said parts being suchthat in all positions. the diaphragm movesequal distances in opposite directions.

8. In a gas signal flasher, incombination with a gas chamber, a supply line connected therewith, an adjustable hand valve to regulate'the rateoffiow of gas thereto, inletand outlet valves within the chamber, a bar on which thevalves are carried, a diaphragm movable under the pressure of the gas, and

operative connections between the diaphragm. and the bar including a pivoted arm, push rods interposed operatively be'- tween the arm and the bar, a rod pivoted on the arm and in swiveled engagement with the diaphragm, a bell shaped head in which one end of therod. extends, a threaded stem carrying the head and extending through the walls of the gas chamber for manual rotation to change the relation of the head ,topthe end of the rod and thereby vary the position of the fulcrum with respect to the diaphragm- This application signed this 5th day of January, A. D. 1922., p V

eusrav, v. KARLSON. 

